Salem, OR weather in May
In May, Salem sees highs around 69°F and lows around 46°F: mild, with frequent rain. Expect about 12 wet days. Great for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 46°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 66°F | 71°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 49°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:01 am / 8:17 pm | 5:29 am / 8:50 pm |
| Daylight | 14.3 h | 15.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical May day
- 6 am50°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 am57°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 47°F
- 6 pm64°Fdew point 46°F
- 9 pm56°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Salem Mcnary Fld (3 mi away); average wind 6 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F15 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more1 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry May brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20201992: average high 77°F
- Coolest May1998: average high 62°F
- Wettest May1998: 5.6 in
- Driest May1992: 0.05 in
- Highest reading99°F (May 16, 2008)
- Lowest reading31°F (May 8, 2002)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 69°F | 75°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 46°F | 51°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 12 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 15 | 19 |
| Daylight | 13.5 h | 14.9 h | 15.6 h |
Highs change by +7°F from April and +6°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Drier: Bend, OR104 mi · high 66°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Cannon Beach, OR79 mi · high 61°F · 14 wet days
How Salem ranks in May
- Normal high286th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Oregon
- Wet days253rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days113th most of 339
What to pack for Salem in May
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
Heating and cooling
May has 239 heating degree days and 11 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 5% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Salem in May?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 46°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 31°F (most recently on May 8, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Salem in May?
About 12 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (5.6 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.05 in).
Is May a good time to visit Salem?
May ranks 2nd of 12 months on our comfort score for Salem (73 out of 100). It has about 15 comfortable days and about 1 day at 90°F or hotter. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Salem Mcnary Fld (USW00024232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 205 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Corvallis State Univ (USC00351862), 23 mi SSW of the city center, 225 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Silverton (USC00357823), 14 mi ENE of the city center, 408 ft (251 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcnary Field Airport (726940-24232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 208 ft (51 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).